University Career Center

F1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Via the Career Center

Our office holds CPT workshops each semester, please see Our Calendar for upcoming sessions

Definition

  • Immigration regulations define CPT as training programs that are an integral part of an established curriculum; defined as alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship/practicum, which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
  • The ‘training’ may be required for a particular course but the course does not need to be a requirement of a particular program of study.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must have been in lawful student status for one full academic year (2 semesters).
  • Part-time work experiences (49erships) in Fall/Spring semesters require students to be enrolled full-time (unless otherwise authorized by ISSO for a reduced course load).
  • Summer work experiences may be full or part-time, as long as the student will continue to be enrolled the following fall semester or if the student is enrolled in summer coursework as the final term of study.
  • Students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. program, enrolled only in “thesis/dissertation” or enrolled in a course requiring an internship should consider applying for CPT via the Academic Department instead.
  • Students who are nearing the end of their academic work should consider applying for Optional Practical Training.

Length of Training

  • There is no limit on the amount of curricular practical training, but students who engage in 12 months or more of full-time curricular practical training are not eligible for Optional Practical Training.

Additional Information

  • Every term of work experience must be approved by the Career Center and authorized by the ISSO.
  • All work experiences approved by the Career Center will be reflected on the student’s transcript as either a Co-op, 49ership Program Course 3500, or the appropriate number as per discipline in one of the approved courses.
  • Students participating in Curricular Practical Training, as with other employment, are subject to withholding for federal and state tax unless a tax treaty applies. At the same time, such students are exempt from Social Security tax (FICA) and Medicare withholding.

Application Procedure

  1. Contact the Career Center regarding procedures for participation in a 49ership or a co-op program.
  2. Upon approval of the Career Center, the ISSO will review the application.
  3. Allow 10 days processing time for the new I-20 authorizing CPT employment in the U.S.